Concrete-distributing apparatus



Nov. 25, 1930. A. MacDOUGALD CONCRETE DISTRIBUTING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 28. 192? 1 v I r vvvll/ attorney if Patented Nov. 25, 1 930 e j rexi mm MacnouGApD', or ATLANTA, GEoRGIA, nssienon To; MAcDouoa noonQ tsrnuorIoN oomrnny, orv ATiiANflA GEoBGiA A .oonronerrononenonem oononnrnrnisrnieurnve nrraah rus a i Ap plfication filed November 28,- -1927. Serial N03. 236,337.

This invention relates to concrete distributing apparatus, and: more particularly to an apparatus for distributing concrete or other plastic mixtures to elongated forms.

An important object of the invention is to provide a novel form of apparatus adapted to distribute concrete and the like into elongated forms such as-those employed in the making of road or street headers, curbs, gutters, etc.

A futher object is to provide apparatus of the character referred to which is adapted to be mounted upon the chassisof a truck or other vehicle whereby it may be conveyed substantially parallel to the form to permit it to distribute the concrete mixture therein.

A further object is to provide novel means for controlling the flow ofthe concrete to compensate for forms of different widths and depths, and the varying speeds of the vehicle by, which it is carried.

A further objectis to provide a gate for controlling the flow of the cement mixture, and to provide novel means for actuating the ate.

b A further object is to provide a distributing apparatus of the character referred to which includes a hopper and a vertically swinging discharge chute, the lower end of which is adapted to be arranged overa form to discharge plastic mixtures thereinto.

A further object is to provide novel baffle means associated with the outlet end of the i chute for controlling the discharge of the ma-' terial into the forms.

Other objects and advantages of the inven tionwill'become apparent during the course sectional view,

of the, following description.

i In the drawings I have shown one embodiment of the invention. In this showing,

Figure 1 is a plan view,

Figure 2 1s a central transverse vertical Figure 3 is a detail perspective of the gate and operating means therefor.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the numeral designates a hopper as a whole which is adapted to be supported on the chassis of a motor vehicle or other suitable means by which the hopper may be conveyed parallel and adjacent to the form in which it is desiredto distributeconcrete orthe like. The A cal: front and rear walls 12 and13' and end portion of which extends beyond; the front wall 12' through a discharge opening .116

formed therein. The hopper is lined with walls 14,.and a sloping bottom 15, the central I Q sheet metal as at 17, andthe central portion .ofthe sheet metal covering for the bottom 15 alsoextends throughthe opening 16, asindi "cated at 18, and is provided with upturned side portionslS) forming a'di'scharge spouta Vertica guides are arranged on oppositesideso-f the opening 16and agate 21 is slidable in these guides. A vertioallyex tending rod 22 is secured at its lower end to thegate 21 and hasits upper end extending transversely across the front of the hopper as at 23.2 Alever 24 is pivotally connected to the front of the hopper near the top-thereof as'at 25 and isprovided at one end with an elongated slot 26 throughwhich the end 23 of the rod 22extends, washers ornuts 27 preferablysbeing secured to the end 23on opposite sides of thelever. (An operating handle 28 is preferably carried by the upper end of the lever, as clearly shown in Figures 1 and 2. i

A chute 29 is arranged forwardly of' the hopperand is providedwithan outwardly flaring upper e'nd 30, the side walls ofwhich are arranged outwardly of the sides of the spout The upper end of the bottom of the chute is arranged beneath the spout 'of the hopper, as shown in Figure2fand is pivotally cdnnectedto the hopper" as ,at 31. Pivot pins 32 are carried by the side walls of the chute adjacent the lower end thereof, and a yoke 33 is connected to these pins. Achain ea .or otherflexible element is connected at its lower end to the yoke33, the upper end of the chainpassing around a pulley 35sup ported by the front of the hopper. The free end ;of the chain may be secured in given positions by engaging links of the chain with ahook 36 also secured againstfthe front of the hopper. It will be apparent thatthe chute is adapted to swing Vertically and to be secured in adjusted positions by the chain 34 and hook 36. The apparatus described is adapted to be conveyed parallel to any longitudinal or elongated form in which concrete is to be discharged. In the present instance, the lower end of the chute is shown as being arranged over a form 37 in which concrete is to be poured to form a road or street curbing. A bafiie 38 is arranged outwardly of the chute to assist in properly guiding the concrete into the form, the baffle being carried by the outer ends of the arms 39 and 40 which are pivotally connected at their inner ends to the pins 32.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows:

The hopper is filled with concrete at the point of mixing and is conveyed to the point where it is desired to discharge the concrete into the molds. The operator may lower the discharge end of the chute to a position over the form, as shown in Figures 1 and 2whereupon the handle 28 may be depressed to elevate the inner end of the lever 26 and thus raise the gate/21. The gate may be held open to any desired degree to control the rate of flow of the cement from the hopper to the discharge spout and chute as will be apparent. The chain 34 may be operated to swing the lower end of the chute vertically according to the vertical position of the form in which the concrete is to be discharged. The bafiie 38 is manually operable to control the discharge of the cement from the lower end of the chute, this element greatly assisting in evenly distributing the cement and preventing it from flowing over the outer portion of the form. Under all conditions the flow of cement may be controlled by the gate 21, and the operating ele ments for the gate are adapted to move it vertically without transmitting any lateral binding forces thereagainst.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the present apparatus is adapted to eliminate the common practice of mixing concrete at a given point and distributing it in piles along a street or roadway to be manually shoveled into the forms. Thus materially less labor is employed with the present apparatus, and the work more rapidly may be performed.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claim.

I claim:

Apparatus of the character described comprising a hopper having an opening in the bottom of the front wall thereof and a botits ends to the outer face of the front'wall of said hopper and adapted to swing in a plane parallel to. the movement of said gate, said lever being provided in one end portion thereof with a longitudinal slot slidably receiving said transverse extension.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

ALEXANDER MAODOUGALD. 

